Hair clip

ABSTRACT

A hair clip includes a first paddle extending from a first tab. The first paddle has at least a portion with a width that is greater than a width of the first tab. The first paddle has a first curved shape. A second paddle extends from a second tab. The second paddle has at least a portion with a width that is greater than a width of the second tab. The second tab is connected to the first tab. The second paddle has a second curved shape. The second paddle overlapping the first paddle. A biasing element is disposed between the first tab and the second tab. The biasing element applies a biasing force to the first and second paddles so that in a rest position, the first and second paddles are in a closed position, and, in a use position, a first force is applied to the first tab and a second force is applied to the second tab so that the first tab and second tab are moved closer to one another and the first and second paddles are moved further apart from one another than in the rest position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.29/796,640 filed Jun, 25, 2021, the entire contents are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure is directed to a hair clip. More particularly,the present disclosure relates to a double paddle hair clip.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, clips are used during hair styling to hold certain tufts ofhair out of the way, or to hold a styled section of hair in place for apredetermined time during styling or post-styling of hair. Suchconventional clips have metal frames on one or both sides of analligator type clip so that a user squeezes distal or lever ends to openjaws of the clip and releases the ends to allow a spring force to closethe jaws together. On some types of hair, the metal frame of the clipundesirably results in indentations in the hair from the metal pressingdirectly against the hair. Moreover, these conventional clips fail toprovide any additional desirable styling capability.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need for a clip that overcomes,alleviates, and/or mitigates one or more of the aforementioned and otherdeleterious effects of prior clips.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a single hair clip that has asubstantially greater surface area that results in lower localizedstress concentrations (and thus less likelihood of leavingindentation/damage to hair) and simultaneously can hold a larger tuft ofhair (i.e., more individual hairs).

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a hair clip is providedhaving a pair of curved, relatively wide paddles.

An embodiment of the hair clip of the present disclosure includes afirst paddle extending from a first tab. The first paddle has at least aportion with a width that is greater than a width of the first tab. Thefirst paddle has a first curved shape. A second paddle extends from asecond tab. The second paddle has at least a portion with a width thatis greater than a width of the second tab. The second tab is connectedto the first tab. The second paddle has a second curved shape. Thesecond paddle overlaps the first paddle. A biasing element is disposedbetween the first tab and the second tab. The biasing element applies abiasing force to the first and second paddles so that in a restposition, the first and second paddles are in a closed position, and, ina use position, a first force is applied to the first tab and a secondforce is applied to the second tab so that the first tab and second tabare moved closer to one another and the first and second paddles aremoved further apart from one another than in the rest position.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be apparent and understood by those skilled in the artfrom the following detailed description, drawings, and accompanyingclaims. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numeralsdesignate like or corresponding parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, bottom perspective view of a hair clip according tothe present disclosure in a rest position.

FIG. 2 is a rear, bottom perspective view of the hair clip of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a front, top perspective view of the hair clip of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a front view of the hair clip of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the hair clip of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a left side view of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a right side view of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8 is a top view of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hair clip 100 according to the presentdisclosure is shown in FIG. 1 . Hair clip 100 is used during hairstyling to hold tufts of hair out of the way, or to hold a styledsection of hair in place for a predetermined time during styling orpost-styling while a style sets. Hair clip 100 has paddles 120, 220 thatare curved when viewed in the side view as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 . Hairclip 100 is relatively large so that in use, the curve of paddles 120,220 facilitates a user's ability to either align the inner concave sideto follow the curve of the head so that the clip engages hairapproximately equidistant from the scalp at all points of engagement,and the user can reverse the orientation so that the convex side facesthe user and imparts a curl-like wave in the hair (due to itscurvature).

Referring to FIG. 3 , hair clip 100 has a first member 102 and a secondmember 202. First member 102 has a first tab 130 and a first bodyportion 140 that extends from first tab 130. First body portion 140 isconnected to first paddle 120. First paddle 120 has first exteriorsurface 160 opposite a first interior surface 162. First paddle 120forms a first proximal edge 164 (FIG. 5 ) opposite a first distal edge166 and two first side edges 168, 170 (FIGS. 1 and 3 ) opposite oneanother between first exterior surface 160 and the first interiorsurface 162. Two first side edges 168, 170 each extend between firstproximal edge 164 and first distal edge 166. First body portion 140 hasa curvature that is the same as first paddle 120. First paddle 120 isconnected to first body portion 140, for example, by molding. Thismolding can be achieved by portions of material 122 of first paddle 120passing through apertures 142 through first body portion 140 therebypreventing disconnection of first paddle 120 from first body portion140. Thus, first body portion 140 has a connection feature of apertures142 that are a line of circular holes along the center of first bodyportion 140 that receive portions of first paddle 120 to hold firstpaddle 120 to first body portion 140 together providing added supportfor the curved shape of first paddle 120 to connect to first bodyportion 140. A first exterior surface 160 of first paddle 120 hasportions 121 and 123 that extend on opposite sides of first body portion140 so that first paddle 120 has a substantially greater surface areathan first body portion 140. First body portion 140 is in a depressionin first exterior surface 160 of first paddle 120. Alternatively, firstpaddle 120 can connect directly to first tab 130 so hair clip 100 has nofirst body portion 140. Another alternative is first paddle 120 andfirst tab 130 being a single one-piece structure so that hair clip 100has no first body portion 140.

First paddle 120 is made of a material that is more flexible than amaterial of first member 102. First paddle 120 is a medium tomedium-soft hardness plastic material with some ability to deform(thereby decreasing stress concentrations/indentations). However, firstpaddle 120 can be made of any one of a variety of materials. Firstmember 102 is made of metal or other supportive material.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , analogous to first member 102, secondmember 202 has a first tab 230 and a second body portion 240 thatextends from second tab 230. Second body portion 240 is connected tosecond paddle 220. Second paddle 220 has second exterior surface 260opposite a second interior surface 262. Second paddle 220 forms a secondproximal edge 264 (FIG. 2 ) opposite a second distal edge 266 and twosecond side edges 268, 270 (FIGS. 1 and 3 ) opposite one another betweensecond exterior surface 260 and second interior surface 262. Two secondside edges 268, 270 each extend between second proximal edge 264 andsecond distal edge 266. Second body portion 240 has a curvature that isthe same as second paddle 220. Second paddle 220 is connected to secondbody portion 240, for example, by molding. This molding can be achievedby portions of material 222 of second paddle 220 passing throughapertures 242 through second body portion 240 thereby preventingdisconnection of second paddle 220 from second body portion 240. Thus,second body portion 240 has a connection feature of apertures 242 thatare a line of circular holes along the center of second body portion 240that receive portions of second paddle 220 to hold second paddle 220 tosecond body portion 240 together providing added support for the curvedshape of second paddle 220 to connect to second body portion 240. Secondexterior surface 260 of second paddle 220 has portions 221 and 223 thatextend extends on opposite sides of second body portion 240 so thatsecond paddle 220 has a substantially greater surface area than secondbody portion 240. Second body portion 240 is in a depression in secondexterior surface 260 of second paddle 220. Alternatively, second paddle220 can connect directly to second tab 230 so hair clip 100 has nosecond body portion 240. Another alternative is second paddle 220 andsecond tab 230 being a single one-piece structure so that hair clip 100has no second body portion 240.

Analogous to first paddle 120, second paddle 220 is made of a materialthat is more flexible than the material of second member 202. Secondpaddle 220 is a medium to medium-soft hardness plastic material withsome ability to deform (thereby decreasing stressconcentrations/indentations), but can be any one of a variety ofmaterials. Second member 202 is metal or other supportive material.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 , first tab 130 has a first pair of spacedwalls 132, 134 that extend toward second tab 230. Referring to FIG. 5 ,second tab 230 has a second pair of spaced walls 232, 234 that extendtoward first tab 130. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , a pin 135 passesthrough each of first pair of spaced walls 132, 134 and second pair ofspaced walls 232, 234 so that first paddle 120 and second paddle 220 canpivot toward and away from one another.

Referring to FIG. 8 , first paddle 120 has at least a portion 125 with awidth 127 that is greater than a width 137 of first tab 130. Portion 125is a majority of first paddle 120 and can be a length 129. Width 127 cantaper away from first tab 130 to a distal tip 124. Tip 124 isangular/pointed forming a V-shaped. First paddle 120 can be a flattenedteardrop shape forming tip 124 at a first end and a C-shape end portion126 at a second end that is opposite the first end so that first paddle120 is symmetrical about axis C and with first paddle 120 being curvedalong axis C so first paddle 120 curves from C-shape end portion 126 totip 124 to form a concave shape when facing a first direction and aconvex shape when facing a second direction that is opposite the firstdirection.

Likewise, referring to FIG. 9 , second paddle 220 has at least a portion225 with a width 227 that is greater than a width 237 of second tab 230.Portion 225 is a majority of second paddle 220 and can be a length 229.Width 227 can taper away from second tab 230 to a distal tip 224. Tip224 is angular/pointed forming a V-shape. Second paddle 220 can be aflattened teardrop shape forming tip 224 at a first end and C-shape endportion 226 at a second end that is opposite the first end so thatsecond paddle 220 is symmetrical about axis D and with second paddle 220being curved along axis D so second paddle 220 curves from C-shape endportion 226 to tip 224 to form a concave shape when facing a firstdirection and a convex shape when facing a second direction that isopposite the first direction.

First paddle 120 and second paddle 220 can be the same shape. Further,first paddle 120 and second paddle 220 can each have a portion that arethe same shape as one another, or each have a different shape. Firstpaddle 120 and second paddle 220 shown in FIG. 1 are the same shape asone another so they overlap. First paddle 120 and second paddle 220 arecurved when viewed in the side view as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , so thatfirst paddle 120 and second paddle 220 curve in a first direction awayfrom first tab 130 and second tab 230, for example, first paddle 120 andsecond paddle 220 curve in a downward direction in FIGS. 6 and 7 , to anapex and then curve in an opposite direction towards tips 124, 224, forexample, first paddle 120 and second paddle 220 curve in an upwarddirection in FIGS. 6 and 7 . As shown in FIG. 7 , first tab 130 forms anangle 133 with second tab 230 in the rest position shown in FIGS. 1-9 ,for example, angle 133 is less than 90 degrees.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a biasing element 190 is disposed between firsttab 130 and second tab 230. Biasing element 190 is a spring that is heldbetween first tab 130 and second tab 230 by pin 135 that is threadedthrough a center of a coil 195 of the spring of biasing element 190.Biasing member 190 has opposite ends so a first end 191 abuts first tab130 and a second end 192 abuts second tab 230. Alternatively, biasingelement 190 is another member that biases first tab 130 away from secondtab 230. Biasing element 190 applies a biasing force that biases firsttab 130 away from second tab 230 so that first tab 130 applies a biasingforce to first paddle 120 and second tab 230 applies a biasing force tosecond paddle 220 urging first paddle 120 and second paddle 220 togetherso that in a rest position, first paddle 120 and second paddle 220 arein a closed position, as shown in FIGS. 1-9 .

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , a first force is applied in a direction 600to first tab 130 and a second force is applied in a direction 602 tosecond tab 230 so that first tab 130 and second tab 230 overcome thebias of biasing member 190 and move closer to one another, while firstpaddle 120 and second paddle 220 move apart from one another more thanin the rest position shown in FIG. 1 . In particular, the first forceapplied in direction 600 to first tab 130 and the second force isapplied in a direction 602 to second tab 230 moves first tab 130 andsecond tab 230 so that each pivot about pin 135 closer to one anotherand first tab 130 moves first paddle 120 away from second paddle 220 andsecond tab 230 moves second paddle 220 away from first paddle 120 to ause position. While hair clip 100 is in the use position, a user canplace hair in between first paddle 120 and second paddle 220. The usercan then release the first force applied in direction 600 to first tab130 and the second force is applied in direction 602 to second tab 230so that the bias of biasing member 190 moves first tab 130 and secondtab 230 to each pivot about pin 135 away from one another and first tab130 moves first paddle 120 closer to second paddle 220 and second tab230 moves second paddle 220 closer to first paddle 120 clamping hairbetween first paddle 120 and second paddle 220. The metal frame ofbiasing member 190, pin 135, first member 102 and second member 202forms a spring-loaded, alligator type clip. When a user squeezes thelever or distal ends, namely, first tab 130 and second tab 230, firstpaddle 120 and second paddle 220 open. The lever ends, namely, first tab130 and second tab 230, are released to let the spring of biasing member190 force the jaws, including first paddle 120 and second paddle 220,shut.

Hair clip 100 is relatively large so that in use, the curve of paddles120, 220 facilitates a user's ability to either align the inner concaveside to follow the curve of the head so that the clip engages hairapproximately equidistant from the scalp at all points of engagement,and the user can reverse the orientation so that the convex side facesthe user and imparts a curl-like wave in the hair (due to itscurvature).

First paddle 120 and second paddle 220 minimize or prevent indentationsin hair from metal frames found in conventional hair clips that pressdirectly against the hair. In particular, first paddle 120 and secondpaddle 220 of the present clip 100 minimize or prevent metal-to-haircontact that would normally be applied if a hair clip, like conventionalhair clips, does not have a pair of analogous mating paddles. Forexample, if hair clip 100 only had one paddle, on some types of hair,the side of hair clip without a paddle (the paddle-less side) wouldresult in indentations in the hair from the metal of the body, while theside of hair clip with the paddle (the paddled side) would have noindentations.

Clip 100 with first paddle 120 and second paddle 220 preventmetal-to-hair contact. Further, the flat, wide shape of first paddle 120and second paddle 220 have a substantially greater surface area (thanthe paddle-less side of conventional clips) resulting in lower localizedstress concentrations (and thus less likelihood of leavingindentation/damage to hair) and yet holds a larger tuft of hair (i.e.,more individual hairs) in a single clip.

As stated previously, the material of first paddle 120 and second paddle220, respectively, is preferably a medium to medium-soft hardnessplastic material with some ability to deform (thereby decreasing stressconcentrations/indentations), but can be any one of a variety ofmaterials.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to one ormore exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art, that various changes can be made, and equivalents can besubstituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapta particular situation or material to the teachings of the presentdisclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it isintended that the present disclosure will not be limited to theparticular embodiments disclosed herein, but that the disclosure willinclude all aspects falling within the scope of a fair reading ofappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair clip comprising: a first paddle extendingfrom a first tab and supported by a first body portion extending fromthe first tab, the first paddle having at least a portion with a widththat is greater than a width of the first tab and a tapered profile in afirst plane forming an apex at a distal edge, and the first paddlehaving a generally curved shape with respect to a second plane generallyorthogonal to the first plane such that an exterior surface of the firstpaddle is generally concave and an opposite, interior surface of thefirst paddle is generally convex; a second paddle extending from asecond tab and supported by a second body portion extending from thesecond tab, the second paddle having at least a portion with a widththat is greater than a width of the second tab and a tapered profile ina first plane forming an apex at a distal edge, and the second paddlehaving a generally curved shape with respect to a second plane generallyorthogonal to the first plane so that an exterior surface of the secondpaddle is generally convex and an opposite, interior surface of thesecond paddle is generally concave; a hinge pivotally connecting thefirst paddle and the second paddle; and a biasing element disposedbetween the first tab and the second tab, the biasing element applying abiasing force to the first and second paddles so that in a rest positionthe first and second paddles are in a closed position.
 2. The hair clipof claim 1, wherein the first and second paddles are made of a materialthat is more flexible than material of the first and second bodyportions.
 3. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the first paddle and thesecond paddle are the same shape.
 4. The hair clip of claim 1, whereinthe first body portion has a curvature that is the same as the firstpaddle.
 5. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the second body portion hasa curvature that is the same as the second paddle.
 6. The hair clip ofclaim 1, wherein the first paddle is symmetrical about a first axis. 7.The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the second paddle is symmetrical abouta second axis.
 8. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the first paddle isconnected to the first body portion by portions of material of firstpaddle passing through a plurality of apertures through the first bodyportion, and wherein the plurality of apertures are a line of circularholes along a center of the first body portion that receive the portionsof the first paddle to hold the first paddle.
 9. The hair clip of claim1, wherein the second paddle is connected to the second body portion byportions of material of second paddle passing through a plurality ofapertures through the second body portion, and wherein the plurality ofapertures are a line of circular holes along a center of the second bodyportion that receive the portions of the second paddle to hold thesecond paddle.